I can understand why TV networks love reality shows. They're cheap to make, & they rate well. It's infomercials I can't stand. I mean, who watches this stuff? It just makes the network more money than broadcasting a test pattern. But I miss the old days, when networks played old movies all night. That was worth the insomnia.

__________________
"They told me I was goin to have to work for my living, & all I wanna do is ride. I don't care where we're goin from here. So Honey you decide" Jackson Browne (the Road & The Sky)

... As for the talent shows, they are closer to "real" than the others.

I would say so, too. It seems to me, there are three or four sort-of "sub-genres" of so-called reality shows: Watch 'em work shows, like truckers, fishermen, bike builders, cops; Contrived contests, like obstacle courses, treasure hunts, Survivor; Voyeurism for no reason whatsoever, like swapping wives, Amish, Big Brother, and that MTV one that started it all (forgot the name).

And then there are talent shows. All of these reality shows are contrived, edited for drama, designed to shock, amaze and tear-jerk. But it seems to me that talent shows have two redeeming qualities: One is that anyone can walk in off the street and try out; and every now and then, they find someone from out of nowhere with actual talent, like the 40-year old mobile phone sales guy who sang in the shower and now has five albums.

It's at least a vicarious thrill for me to watch these people be discovered. I can do without the dramatic flourishes, or making sport of the really bad performers. But that's television, I guess.

The only time I tried to watch one of the gong shows was when Helio was on and doing well. I made it about 10 minutes - turned out (not surprisingly I guess) they had about 30 seconds of the competition and 9:30 of life story/drama/scripted BS.

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